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[He's overdue for this, it's true. But Tony has been poking around before committing to an introduction. He doesn't rush in quite as recklessly these days thanks to his time with SHIELD. Trying to think more like a spy has paid off in that sense. He connects to the MID, sending his image using a camera that does not look attached to his arm. In fact, it seems to be showing a full body shot, with the camera somewhere across the room.]

My name is Tony Stark. For those who know me, I'm declaring this an emergency in neutral space. Everyone is an ally out here unless you prove otherwise.

For those I haven't met, I'd be happy to change that. Since we're all working together on this problem it doesn't hurt to make more friends. I'm sure everyone has the same goal right now and the more we work together, the faster it will go.

That said, if there's anything I can do for you, let me know. I'm guessing some of us might have arrived a little worse off than others. Just look me up if you need a hand.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Given how young Howard is right now, "Look what I made" would probably be exactly the right way to strike up a conversation. As it is right now, though, he's trying to figure out which one of them is more on the defensive.]

I noticed. Looks like I'm outnumbered two to one. [He lets himself smile, easy and a little wry.] Is it? I've heard it's a name that's gotten out of the weapons game.

[Which is... yeah. Not a bad thing, but not really something he ever expected. If it's still true for thisStark, then maybe it's a welcome inevitability.]

[This one is at least trying not to be, but that probably just shows more. He's trying to keep a level expression and pleasant demeanor while talking to his dead father when Howard would have berated him for being too soft. How do you play nice and be a real man at the same time? One of those mysteries Tony has yet to solve.]

I noticed. Maybe the Ingress likes us.

[He hesitates, unsure of how exactly to respond to that not-quite-inquiry. Maybe things are different in their world. He can't speak for the other Tony even though he'd like to think they're alike enough.]

Is that what he told you?

Or maybe our captains do. [There's something a little sardonic in his voice.] 'Twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action', I think is how it goes?

[Three Starks on a ship that loks, so far, as though it's not having too much difficulty getting to its destination. It seems like overkill - but it might just be speculative paranoia.

Howard cocks his head a little.] He did. Not the same for you?

Are you saying we might be part of enemy action?

[He's teasing, but it's a thought he files away to consider. The possibility is there if they don't know the Moira's mission directives.

And then comes that question, and Tony's expression tightens. He looks to the side for some kind of relief, but doesn't find any.]

That... I don't really think this is a good place to discuss this.

It's a working theory, but I like to keep my options open.

[He doesn't trust as easily anymore, and definitely not after he's been kidnapped. It's a hell of a ride so far, but that doesn't mean any of those four can be counted on to have anyone but their own interests in mind.

And huh. That's... an interesting reaction.]

Sure. Got a place to meet handy?

[That's not what he meant that's not what he meant HOWARD damn it!

He takes a breath and resists pinching the bridge of his nose.]

We aren't exactly in... The main hall is quiet. We can talk there.

Got it.

[Howard cuts the comm and makes his way there, picking out a relatively unobtrusive spot to wait for his-- wait for this Tony Stark. He has his hands shoved in his pockets, but despite his casual stance it's easy enough to see that this Howard isn't identical to the one Tony grew up with. He's shorter, for one, brown-eyed instead of blue and, most noticeably, he's young. Straight out of the war and not even thirty.

He watches Tony approach, already assessing the differences, the similarities.]

[He takes a little time to get there, deciding how he wants to appear. He knows that this Howard is probably related to the other Tony. He would know his own father even after all this time. But it still makes him uneasy, so when he shows up to meet Howard, he's walking stiffly, head held high even though he's already taller than the other man.

And older, it seems. That's awkward.]

I would have preferred to save that sort of talk for a personal call. No one else needs to know about our business.

[It's a bit of stiff-legged bravado that Howard's more used to seeing in business deals, not impromptu meetings with... well, a son. It gets a raised eyebrow - this one's different from the other he's met. Younger, more serious. It's strange.]

In case you haven't noticed, pal, our business tends to be pretty public most days. [His tone is mild but... that feels odd to say. 'Our' business, in both senses of the word. (His business - he's allowed to be a little territorial over it, right?)] Unless you've got a reason to think it shouldn't be?

[Business is really the only way Tony knows how to meet Howard. There had always been distance between them and now that he has to chance to just talk he doesn't know where to start. How do you approach a relationship that never really existed? And he's tense despite forcing a calm expression onto his face. Should he call him dad? Is that going too far?

Can he just go back to pretending he doesn't have family issues?]

I just think people would feel better if they didn't know there were a group of weapons manufacturers on the ship. It might make them uncomfortable.

[He's trying to do good here. Keep sensitive information out of the general public. SHIELD is right about that much anyway.]

And we don't know who might know us. Anyway, I wasn't trying to make that transmission about me.

[Tony finally cracks a small smile. Look, he knows he's a Stark, but he was genuinely trying to help there, not show off for once.]

A fair few already know.

[But alright, alright. Howard can admit it's probably a smart move. Not that everyone else won't find out eventually, but maybe delaying the inevitable will help things.]

I noticed. [He matches the smile, albeit a little more wryly.] Getting everyone on good terms with each other before we even get underway? Not a bad plan.

[The last thing they need is infighting, especially on a ship.]

Maybe. But I don't have to advertise it. And it doesn't have to be the only thing they know about me.

[Maybe Howard is all right with that reputation, but Tony isn't. He's spent too much time trying to escape it to take that all back now. He's not sure what Howard will think of him for backing out of the war business, but he wants to be his own person.

Why did he have to face his dad on this trip? Even an alternate version makes him feel smaller somehow.]

I just think it would be better for all of us to focus on the real problem, don't you? We don't have time to be picking at the past.

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